News for 2021 & 2022:
- Shades of Green Guests Eligible for Disney World Early Entry & Extended Evening Hours
- Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World Resumes Discounts for 2022
- Disneyland 2021 and 2022 Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket Offer
- Disneyland 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Offer
- Using Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in 2021
- 2022 Disney Armed Forces Salute Timeline
- Using the Walt Disney World Theme Park Reservation System
What’s the Right Military Discounted Disney Ticket for me?
I am often asked some version of this question.
Updated March 2021 with new WDW ticket prices.
Updated July 2021 with Disneyland’s new info.
Updated August 2021 for Non-return of FastPass+ and introductory info on Disney Genie and Disney Genie+
A Very Complex Issue
“I’d like to go to Disney World or Disneyland for 5 days, what’s the cheapest ticket to buy?”
This question is typical of those that I receive, and while this is a seemingly simple question, there are way too many variables to give a simple answer!
The Variables, which were left out of the question above that affect the answer are:
- Number of adults in the party (ages 10+)
- Number of children in the party (ages 3-9)
- Dates of the Trip
- Desire to Park-Hop
- Desire for Park Hopper Plus Option (at WDW)
- Where are you staying?
- Have any Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets been used previously during the current offer period?
When answering a question like this I have to shotgun lots of information, which might or might not apply. And it takes a lot of my time.
Deciding the right ticket for your party is a very complex decision, one which will be influenced heavily by your vacation decisions and touring preferences.
The right Military Ticket option for one family might not be the right option for another!”
This is going to be a long complex post, in which I’ll try to lay things out in a logical manner with the intention of guiding you through your decision making process.
Disney Military Ticket Types
Many people are surprised to find out that there are actually several totally different types of military discounted Disney tickets!
These ticket types are
- Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
- Regular Military Discounted, Magic Your Way Tickets at WDW or Theme Park Tickets at Disneyland
- Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes
These different ticket types have price increases on different schedules
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets – These are special, highly discounted tickets which are offered for a specific time period and have exclusion dates. They are often, but not always the right choice.
Note to non-retired veterans; you do not qualify for the Disney Armed Forces Salute, however there are Disney Veteran Discounts that you do qualify for. They are listed below. You should read this post about your benefits and then come back to this page.
Facts:
- These are available for purchase at Base Ticket Offices, including Shades of Green or directly from Disney.
- There is a single ticket price for all guests 3 years old and up.
- A limited number of these special tickets are allowed to be used during the offer in which they are sold.
- These tickets come in 2 varieties at Disney World: Park-Hopper or Park Hopper Plus, and just Park-Hopper at Disneyland.
- These tickets come in 4-day and 5-day versions at Disney World and 3-day and 4-day at Disneyland
- These tickets are usable for the life of the offer and not afterwards.
- They do not need to be used all at once or consecutively.
- These tickets have a set price for the length of the offer and are based upon the general public ticket prices at the time the offer is announced. Their price does not increase if general public prices increase later.
For more info and current prices see: Disney Armed Forces Salute Info
Also See Using Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in 2021 & 2022
Note to non-retired veterans; you do not qualify for the Disney Armed Forces Salute, however there are Disney Veteran Discounts that you do qualify for. Read this info first, then come back to this page to read about the tickets below!
Regular Military Discounted, WDW Magic Your Way Tickets or Disneyland Theme Park Tickets – These are the slightly discounted tickets that have always been offered to the military community by Disney through Base Ticket Offices.
Facts:
- These are almost identical to the 1 to 10-day tickets at WDW and 1 to 5 day tickets at Disneyland, with various options, which are available to the general public, but at a slight military discount.
- What is different is that these tickets are not date based like the general public ones. They are good any day, EXCEPT that December 18, 2021 – December 31, 2021 and December 17, 2022 – December 31, 2022, are at a higher price*.
- There are 2 ticket age groups: child ages 3-9 and adult ages 10 and up. Under 3 is free.
- These tickets come in 3 varieties: 1-Park per day, Park-Hopper, and Park Hopper Plus at WDW and 1-Park per day or Park-Hopper a tDisneyland.
- These are only available for purchase at Base Ticket Offices and Shades of Green.
- These tickets expire 14 days after first use at WDW, 13 days at Disneyland.
- The price for these tickets is based upon the current general public ticket prices. When Disney increases their regular ticket prices, these go up as well.
- These tickets do not need to be used on consecutive days, you can take down days in the middle to relax.
For more info see: Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets
* One-Day Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets Seasonal Pricing Begins
For current prices see:
Disney Armed Forces Salute Exchange Voucher Ticket
Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes – These are special, all-inclusive 1 to 10-day passes offered by Disney World and Shades of Green. These are “Length of Stay” passes available for purchase by any military member staying at any resort on Walt Disney World Property (Shades of Green, WDW Resorts, and the Disney Swan and Dolphin).
Note: these tickets are currently not for sale, due to Water Park Closures.
Facts:
- These passes include: Theme Park Admission, Park-Hopping, and Park Hopper Plus admission.
- There are 2 pass age groups: child ages 3-9 and adult ages 10 and up.
- These can only be purchased from Shades of Green.
- These tickets are valid one day longer than their allotted number of days after purchase, i.e. a 5-day pass expires 6 days after first use.
- The prices for these passes are also based upon the current general public ticket prices. When Disney increases their regular ticket prices, these go up as well.
- These Passes are length of Stay. You must use them within the allotted number of days allowing only 1 non-theme park day. If you want to take more than 1 down day to lie around the pool, or go to Universal or SeaWorld you will waste some of the pass.
See our Water Park Fun and More information
For more info and current prices see: Stars and Stripes Passes
Disney’s Ticket Pricing
The first few days of tickets for a Disney vacation cost you the most money!
Disney heavily frontloads the price on their multi-day tickets. Your first day costs the most money, followed decreasingly by the second through fourth days. After that extra days cost much less to add.
Here is how much is costs to add each additional day to a Walt Disney World military discounted Magic Your Way, non-Hopper ticket (Hoppers and Plus work the same):
- Day 1 – $119 for the first day
- Day 2 – $111.25 more to add a second day
- Day 3 – $78.25 more to add a third day
- Day 4 – $100 more to add a fourth day
- Day 5 – $26.25 more to add a fifth day
- Day 6 – $11.75 more to add a sixth day
- Day 7 – $12.50 more to add a seventh day
- Day 8 – $21.50 more to add a eighth day
- Day 9 – $18.50 more to add a ninth day
- Day 10 – $18.50 more to add a tenth day
Another way to look at this is to average the cost of the ticket by the number of days
- Day 1 – $119 per day
- Day 2 – $115.13 per day
- Day 3 – $102.83 per day
- Day 4 – $102.13 per day
- Day 5 – $86.95 per day
- Day 6 – $74.42 per day
- Day 7 – $65.57 per day
- Day 8 – $60.06 per day
- Day 9 – $55.44 per day
- Day 10 – $51.75 per day
This does not reflect multi-day ticket tiered use date based pricing as this has not yet made the transition to military prices regular tickets. (Apr 2019)
The situation is very similar at Disneyland, the multi-day non-hopper per day cost (Hoppers work the same) (2021 prices):
- Day 1 – $104.00 for the first day
- Day 2 – $126.50 more to add a second day
- Day 3 – $73.00 more to add a third day
- Day 4 – $29.50 more to add a fourth day
- Day 5 – $20.50 more to add a fifth day
Or
- Day 1 – $104 per day
- Day 2 – $115.25 per day
- Day 3 – $101.17 per day
- Day 4 – $83.25 per day
- Day 5 – $70.70 per day
This front loading of cost makes combining multiple tickets cost prohibitive in most cases.
This is because when you buy 2 tickets you are paying for the expensive days twice. Only on very limited, mid-length vacations is it cost effective to combine a Regular Military ticket with a Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket.
Determining Your Requirement
So, now to the process of making your decision…
Timeframe – Does your trip fall within the Disney Armed Forces Salute timeframe?
Walt Disney World
- All 2020 WDW Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets must be used by 26 September 2021
- All 2021 WDW Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets must be used by 17 December 2021
Disneyland Resort
- All 2020 DLR Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets must be used by 17 September 2021
- All 20212022 DLR Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets must be used by 16 December 2022
– Are your dates within Blockout Dates?
Walt Disney World: none for 2021
Disneyland: December 17, 2021 through December 31, 2021 and April 9, 2022 through April 17, 2022.
Eligibility – How many Salute tickets are you eligible for?
Walt Disney World
Up to 6 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets may be purchased 1 January – 18 December 2020.
An additional 6 2020 and or 2021 Armed Forces Salute tickets may be purchased 19 December 2020 – 17 December 2021. Any purchased in this timeframe count against the 2021 limit.
Up to 6 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets may be purchased 12 February – 17 December 2021.
Disneyland
Up to 6 2021 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets may be purchased 7 July 2021 – 16 December 2022.
Note, there is an exception to this 6 ticket rule for large families.
Length of vacation – How many park days?
How many days do you want to spend in the Disney Theme Parks?
What type of touring do you want?
Do you want to do one park per day, park-hop, go to the Water Parks or park hop and water parks? Do you need to park-hop or go to the water parks for your whole vacation?
Where are you Staying?
It matters at WDW for Early Entry, Extended Park Hours and Disney Genie Individual Attraction Selections.
Are you at a resort eligible for Early Entry? (Disney Resorts, Shades of Green, Swan & Dolphin, or the Disney Springs Resort Hotels).
Are you at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort? You’ll be eligible for eligible for Extended Park Hours.
Disney says that those stating at Select Disney Resorts (we assume they mean Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts at this time) will be eligible to purchase Individual Attraction Selections at 7 a.m. the day of their visir, while others will have to wait till they enter the park.
Do You Want to Park Hop?
One way to economize and make your ticket stretch is to get a ticket with the Park Hopper Plus Option, and use the Plus visits to fill non-park days on your vacation. A 4-day ticket with Park Hopper Plus Option can keep you busy for up to 8 days!
Once you’ve answered these questions you can begin to price your tickets.
Ticket Price Resources
Here are links to our ticket pricing and info resources
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets
Shades of Green Stars and Stripes Passes
How Disney Price Increases Affect Military Tickets
General Guidelines
Below are some general guidelines on what your ticket selection might be.
But I encourage you to run the numbers yourself for every ticket combo you can think of to be sure for your specific circumstance.
Walt Disney World
When deciding what would be the right tickets based on price, you are going to want to figure the cost of all combinations possible of every type of ticket. Take into account how you want to tour: Park hopping every day, or just some days; Plus options all, some, or no days.
These are the ticket types and combos there of that you’ll need to compare:
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
- 4-day Park Hopper Tickets
- 4-day Park Hopper Plus Tickets
- 5-day Park Hopper Tickets
- 5-day Park Hopper Plus Tickets
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets
- 1 – 10 day Base Tickets (only one park per day)
- 1 – 10 day Park Hopper Tickets
- 1 – 10 day Park Hopper Plus Tickets
Shades of Green’s Stars and Stripes Passes
- 2 – 10 day Passes
Things to keep in mind when comparing cost:
Try every option that you can think of:
- Everyone in the party might not use the same type of tickets to come up with the cheapest cost!
- Some of your park days could be non-hopping to save.
- Children’s Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets are cheaper, if just someone in your party is using these then it should be the kids.
- Combining Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets with regular tickets, sometimes this works out as the cheapest route. Try both lengths of Salute ticket and all types of regular military ticket: Base, Hopper, Water Park, both Options depending on your touring desires.
- Regular Military Discounted Tickets for the full length
For an example, below we have compared using Disney Armed Forces Salute Hopper Tickets to Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Hopper Tickets, and a combination of the two.
1 Park Day – The one-day Regular Military Discounted, Magic Your Way Ticket is always the right choice.
2 Park Days – The two-day Regular Military Discounted, Magic Your Way Ticket is currently the right choice.
3 and 4 Park Days – One 4-day Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket per person is always the right choice. Even though there are 3 day regular tickets, the Salute ticket is cheaper and remains valid through the end of the offer (in case you return).
5 Park Days – One 5-day Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket per person is always the right choice.
6 Park Days – This is the grey zone. To find the lowest price you need to compare a 5-day Salute plus a 1-day Regular Hopper to a 6-day regular Hopper. The combo of the two is actually cheaper. And of course using a 1-day base with no hopping that one day would be even cheaper.
7 to 10 Park Days – For days 7 plus the 7 to 10 day Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets is cheaper than doing ticket combos.
Important note when mixing tickets: When using Magic Bands for park entry, the last ticket linked to each person in My Disney Experience will be the first ticket automatically used for entry by the system. If you will be using your tickets in a different order i.e. for a non-hopping day in the middle you have 2 options. You can go to guest relations prior to entering the park to coordinate which ticket you want used that day or use the physical ticket versus your Magic Band for entry.
Disneyland
At Disneyland there are just the Base and Park Hopper tickets.
1 Park Day – The one-day Regular Military Discounted, Theme Park Ticket is always the right choice.
2 through 3 Park Days – One 3-day Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket per person is always the right choice. Even though there are 2-day regular tickets, the Salute ticket is cheaper and remains valid through the end of the offer (in case you return).
4 Park Days – One 4-day Disney Armed Forces Salute Ticket per person is always the right choice.
For 5 to 8 park days you’ll be comparing:
Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
- 3-day Park Hopper Tickets
- 4-day Park Hopper Tickets
Regular Military Discounted Tickets
- 1 – 5 day Base Tickets (only one park per day)
- 1 – 5 day Hopper Tickets
What to compare for 5-8 days (do your own math):
Try every option that you can think of:
- Everyone in the party might not use the same type of tickets to come up with the cheapest cost!
- Some of your park days could be non-hopping to save.
- Children’s Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets are cheaper, if just someone in your party is using these then it should be the kids.
- Back to back use of Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets for all or some of your party, depending on how many people you have. Mix 3 and 4 day for 9 days.
- Combining Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets with regular tickets, sometimes this works out as the cheapest route. Try both lengths of Salute ticket and all types of regular military ticket: Base, Hopper, both Options depending on your touring desires.
- Regular Military Discounted Tickets for the full length
Do Your Homework
As you can see it isn’t as straightforward as you might think!
The important points for you to remember are:
- Decide how you’d like to tour and how many park/water park days you’ll need
- Come up with every possible combo of tickets that you can imagine
- Check the prices and do the math
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? Get Our Email Newsletter
Read about the Temporary Changes to Disney World during their Post-Lockdown Re-Opening
See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info:- Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide
- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist
- Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
- Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
- Dining Overview Page
- Transportation Overview Page
- Technology Overview Page
- Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort
Disney Guidebooks By MDT
|
Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent
Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts! |
You really have done a lot of homework to put this site together. I am in the Canadian Military and wondering if you know of any discounts that may be accessible to us? We are planning a 3 day disneyland trip in October. Thanks
Hi there Katie,
Unless you are stationed in the US and have a US ID, I’m not aware of anything.
Having said that, it never hurts to ask in person at the ticket window. I have heard from non-US service members who have had some luck doing so.
If you purchase a 4-5 day hopper ticket for DL, use 1 day now, can you use the rest of the day’s say next May? In the hopes Disney extends into 2016…
Hi Shannon,
Each Disney Armed Forces Salute is a totally separate offer.
The Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets which are part of the current offer will quit working at midnight on 20 Dec and loose all monitory value.
Planning on going to Disneyland early in 2016 and to Disney World in the Fall of 2016. Is my immediate family eligible for six Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets for Disneyland and six Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets for Disney World?
Hi Paula,
You are eligible for 6 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets at each vacation destination (WDW & DLR).
See: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disneys-Armed-Forces-Salute-FAQ.html#Available
We are going in May 2016 to WDW, family of 6 (one child under 3), 5 days at the park (hopper all days but one) with one day at the water park. Our best option is the Armed Forces Salute – with water park and hopper option. Then for the 5th park day (really are first day) we plan to buy a one day Magic your Way ticket for Epcot. We are staying at a Walt Disney Resort Hotel. Would we need to go to guest relations every day to make sure the correct ticket is used, or just the first day at Epcot. Also could we wait until the evening when we leave Epcot to activate are Armed Forces Salute ticket, so it would not be an issue.
Hey Melissa,
Great question.
Yes on both counts.
The first day ensure the 1-day MYW tickets will be used. Last linked in MDE is first used. But always check first (though they can fix it after, they did for me).
Or as you said not activating the Salute tickets will prevent them from being used for that first entry.
Sounds like an awesome vacation, have fun!
Hi i just want to go to disneyland for 1 day in this next week
1 day 1 person military.
what is the best choice for me
thanks debby
Hi Debby,
You’ll want just a 1-day Regular Military Discounted ticket.
See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
His I thought you had to be staying at shades of green to get the stars and stops ticket. From what I read above you don’t have to be staying there. Is that right?
Yes, correct. You need to be staying on WDW property.
Yes, correct. You need to be staying on WDW property.
Any military discounts on Disney cruises or at the aulani?
Hi aileen ,
Please see:http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Cruise-Line-Military-Discounts.html
And: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/z-popular/aulani-2016-u-s-military-winter-offer/
My father is a 94 yr old WWII DAV. A few times in the past, we have used the Military Discount ticketing for WDW. Over the years, they had “changed” the requirements to be eligible for these discounts. He is not 100% disabled, but he is disabled from WWII. I tried calling so many people to see WHY one year he was allowed to use the Military discounts, and now he can’t! It seems unfair to me. We go to Disney, every year since 1960! The first time my Father used the discount, was in 2005 I think. And a few other times afterward. Before going to WDW this past Dec. I looked into it once again. The Military discount RULES seem to be changing each yr. He has forms of ID from the VA, the DAV, photo, etc… Just can’t figure out “why” he is turned away for someone who fought for this country of his generation. There’s not many of them left from that war. Disney needs to consider changing the rules for WWII Vets…. Shame on you Disney!
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for your comment. I totally understand your point of view. My father was a World War 2 vet also and it was nice to get what perks some companies decided to offer.
First it is very important for you to understand that the Department of Defense sets the eligibility for the Disney Armed Forces Salute not Disney.
Second the Salute was only offered during a short period in 2002 and then again since 2009.
Since 2009 the rules have not changed at all. Current military, retired military, or 100% DAVPRM are and have always been the only eligible individuals.
If your dad was allowed to use this offer in the past it was either by error or a cast member intentionally breaking the rules to be kind.
But please see this offer for non-retired veterans which is from Shades of Green. It is only for the months of January and September. Here is my post with details including what documentation is required: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html
We purchased 3, 4 day park military passes at DW ticket office on January 23 2016, After the first day of visit to magic kingdom, two of us got sick with pneumonia. Are the 3 days left on the passes still valid until December 16 2016. We would like to return in the fall. Thank you
Yes Lawrence, the remaining days on your Disney 2016 Armed Forces Salute Tickets are valid through 19 December 2016.
HI, so I’d like to visit WDW for 4 days, but unfortunately it’s during the blackout dates for Armed Forces Salute. I’d like at least one or two days with parkhopper.
What are my options?
Thank you for your time. I feel like you’re underappreciated from some of these other comments.
Hi Erik,
As mentioned in the post above, at $196 the Disney Armed Forces Salute is the best ticket for 2 park days. A 2-day Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way ticket non-hopper is currently $198 and a hopper is currently $250. These prices could go up any day based upon the recent general public price increase.
Thanks so much!!!
reread your question after posting Erik.
Strike my other comment. I see you need 4 days.
Right now if you can get the pre-Feb ticket increase prices (on this page http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html) a 4-day non hopper or hopper Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way ticket is cheaper than a combo of tickets.
Disney increased prices on the general public Magic Your Way tickets last week and this had not trickled down to Shades (and I assume base ticket offices) as of last Thurs. But this could change any day…
Hi Steve ,
We’re planning a quick little trip before my husband deploys next week and I was wondering , if I currently purchase a one day ticket would I be able to upgrade it to a salute later on before the expiration ? We would only be going for one day this time but I’ll probably be going through your the year with the kids while he’s deployed .
Hi Kathy,
No that will not work as for as I know as the 1-day would be used up.
The options as I see them is to buy the 1-day now or to buy the Salute now for just you (it costs less than an Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way 2-day ticket) and get the kids later (you’d be off a day from theirs this way).
WHAT ARE THE PRICES FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY?THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Please see: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Military-Discounts/Discount-Finder/Military-Discount-Finder.html
Hi I am the wife of a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the gulf war. I am going to Disney World in Orlando on June 20-24 we are wanting to buy if possible Disney
tickets for our family we have two small children with autism but not sure because it’s a bit expensive, apparently my husband is not retired but I don’t know where
to look. I was able to do SeaWorld fun pass but I would gladly love any information my kids would love to go there. Any information would be grately appreciated.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gina Rivadeneira
Hi Gina,
Thanks for checking out the site!
There are no discounts available directly from Disney for your situation.
There is the this one discount available for non-retired veterans which is from Shades of Green. But it is only for the months of January and September. Here is my post with details including what documentation is required: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html perhaps you can reschedule your trip or plan another when you can use this.
I am planing a trip to Disney World in March 2017. I was in the service in 1970 to 1972 during the Vetnam era I got out honorable medical discharge I have a military ID. Am I eligible for discount park tickets Thank you.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for checking out the site!
There are no discounts available directly from Disney for your situation.
There is the this one discount available for non-retired veterans which is from Shades of Green. It is only for the months of January and September. Here is my post with details including what documentation is required: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html
Any idea when tickets for 2017 will be available?
Carolyn,
Please see these two recent posts:
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/no-disney-armed-forces-salute-yet-converting-your-2017-resort-rate/
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-armed-forces-salute/what-to-expect-on-the-day-disney-announces-the-disney-armed-forces-salute/
Steve,
Can you please give me some help on discounted prices for rooms at the Polynesian. I will be using my 100% disabled DAVPRM spouse card. I will need 2 rooms, 1 for 2 adults, 1 for 1 adult and 2 children ages 3 and 5. Our travel dates are Jan.18, 2017 – January 23, 2017.
TY
Hi Diane,
The only help I can provide (as someone not associated with Disney) is to tell you to keep trying (openings do occur) or have a professional like Ears of Experience do it for you (at no extra charge).
Steve, are there discounts for Gold Star family members? Parents, silblings, children?
Hi Rob,
Shades of Green does have a program for Gold Star Families, see these Shades pages: http://shadesofgreen.org/eligibility.htm (at the bottom) & http://shadesofgreen.org/sfp.html
You can of course also read all about Shades on my site: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green.html
Also this offer from Westgate just came out the other day: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discounts/westgate-resorts-to-give-away-1000-free-vacations-for-military-families-in-2017/
Are there discounts for Gold Star family members at Disney World?
Hi Donna,
Shades of Green has a Gold Star Program.
See: http://shadesofgreen.org/eligibility.htm (Gold Star Families near the bottom), and http://shadesofgreen.org/sfp.html
See all about Shades of Green here on my site: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green.html
Hi Steve. My family will be going to Orlando the 1st week of February. My husband is a veteran & we were wondering what tickets would be best for us. We plan to go to Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios(both parks) & Epcot 1day each. There are 6 adults & 1 child. Thank you.
Hi Margaret,
Veteran is a very confusing term, I believe you mean he served for some period of time and got out. If so there are no discounts available directly from Disney for his situation.
There is the this one discount available for non-retired veterans which is from Shades of Green. It is only for the months of January and September. Here is my post with details including what documentation is required: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html
If however he is retired military (served 20 or more years and retired or medically retired (with benefits and pay)), then he is eligible for all the discounts mentioned on my site. And we can discuss the best tickets…
Steve, I’m at Disney World now on the Military Salute tickets/4 day park hopper. Great deal/savings!! Thanks for the advice on your site!
My pleasure Carolyn. Enjoy the magic!!!
We have a child we need to get a ticket for during our 4-day stay. I know Salute only has the one price for ages 3 and up, but I don’t see any price differences listed with child versus adult with the ‘shades of green’ or the ‘regular discounted park ticket’ you mentioned. Do these have child tickets available? If so, is the best deal to just stick with a Salute for the 4-year old? Thanks!
Hi JR,
The prices in this post are just an excerpt of the full price list, you need to follow the link to the full Shades of Green the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets price list. It was under Ticket Resources.
Here is the page: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html
Hi Steve for my bf birthday his friend (who is in the military) wants to buy us the regular military discount tickets not the salute tickets
Two 4 day park hoppers but he doesn’t want to come .will he be able to get us the tickets ?
Hi Catya,
Yes the regular tickets can be used without the military member.
Do you know how much the regular military discount 4 day tickets are ? I can’t find any price on them
Prices at Shades of Green, bases are very similar: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html
My father in law (who is retired military) wants to buy us tickets for disneyworld, but he does not want to go. We have 3 children. If he buys them, can he do it ahead of time and will we able to use them?
Hi Rebecca,
You cannot use the Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets without him going. You can however use the slightly discounted Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets, see: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Steve,
Thank you for your time and effort putting all of this together.
My family and I will be going to DW in Feb 2018. We will have 6 days in the parks and are not interested in using the plus feature on this trip. If I am following your information correctly, I believe our best option is the 5 day hopper Armed Forces Salute Tickets and then purchasing a 1 day regular military discount ticket for the final day. Do I have that right?
If that is our best option, then is there any order the tickets should be used with regards to scheduling fast pass rides? i.e. 5 day pass first then 1 day pass We will be staying at a Disney resort.
Thanks again.
Hi Daren,
Yes in all cases a 5-day Salute plus 1-day regular will be cheaper than a 6-day regular.
Your decisions which will effect your total price are, on that one day do you want to park hop? If not, then do you want to go to the Magic Kingdom or another park?
1-Day Other Parks non-hopper: $102 A/$96 C
1-Day MK non-hopper: $110 A/$104 C
1-Day Hopper: $167.50 A/$161
Staying at a Disney Resort, you’ll be using Magic Bands and My Disney Experience. In MDE the last ticket linked is the first used.
If you are going for the 1-day hoper it doesn’t really matter what ticket is used what day. But if you are going for a non-hopper it does!
If you are mixing hopper with non hopper, I recommend going by guest services anyway prior to entering each park to ensure the ticket you want used is the one they will deduct from that day. If you want to use the non-hopper in the middle this is necessary. The easiest thing would be to use the non-hopper the first day have it done with.
Thanks for the reply Steve.
Our plan is to use a one park/non-MK/non hopper the last day of our trip before hitting the road for home.
“Staying at a Disney Resort, you’ll be using Magic Bands and My Disney Experience. In MDE the last ticket linked is the first used.”
Thanks for this info because we are planning to set-up the fast pass rides as soon as we are able. We are going to MK the first day we arrive, and since the one day ticket will be a “Non-MK” ticket, I’ll plan to go by guest services when we get there.
Thanks again for your help.
You bet!
Have a great time
We are not Florida residents but we are a military family. Do you happen to know what would be better? Purchasing tickets on Disney’s site and upgrading to an AP the day we get there or getting the AP the day we are there without previously purchasing tickets? I heard that if you go through Disney, they will figure out the difference from what you paid and the upgrade but I wasn’t sure if military annual passes will take that into consideration as well…
Hi Ashley,
I’m sorry for the delay in replying. I was at WDW when this came in and it required some research on “price bridging”, so I postponed answering, then it fell below the fold on my comments overview page. I just realized it was still unanswered. Sorry.
If your intent is to buy solely from Disney, the total you will eventually pay is full price plus tax. In your example you’d pay full price plus tax on the initial tickets then the price difference plus tax to upgrade to an AP.
Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets will be the same, you’ll pay the difference between what you paid and the full price (no savings). the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets Are sold at a very slight discount 4-8%, with these you would keep that slight discount as DIsney would credit you full price for the ticket.
However Shades of Green sells APs at a discount. For example the platinum pass is $857.50 from Shades while the gate price is $904.19. This is the way to go. You can buy then ahead or once there.
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/buy-military-discounted-disney-tickets-by-phone/
Good Morning,
I would like to go to Disney from From june 15th until the 19th. Me, my 10 yr old daughter and my husband. I am a veteran 100% medically discharge and he is also a disabled veteran just not 100%. are there any good deals for packages on tickets and hotel rooms for those days that you can help me with?
Hi Judith,
Is your husband permanent 100%? It makes a difference.
He would have a military issued ID (not a VA one) that looks similar to a retirees or dependents with DAVPRM (which stands for disabled veteran permanent) in the rank field. You would also have a spouse ID. People in this status have all the same benefits as a retiree including the same Disney discounts.
However if he is 100% temp he wouldn’t be eligible except for the Shades of Green program for vets: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html which both of you are eligible for with your DD-214s
Hi Steve, he is not 100% like me. I am the one who is 100% retiree from the military, my ID is like a dependent but blue, I do not have the VA ID which is the white card. What options do I have For tickets and hotel reservations for me and my family (3 total)
Oops,
Sorry I was answering 2 very similar questions at the same time and got statuses mixed up on both.
So you have a retiree ID not a 100% DAVPRM. The 100% ID is tan see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/images/Salute/Disney-World-Military-ID-Guide-2019.pdf
As a retiree you are eligible for all Disney discounts, the 100% is not relevant in your case (it only is for those not retired).
See: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/Military-Discounts/Discount-Finder/Retired-Military-Member-Discounts.html for things you are eligible for.
Hello,
Great Information. I am thinkin of getting the shades of green stars and stripe passes, can i add the meal to this option or any military plan?
Hi Freddy,
The Disney Dining Plan is added to your Disney Resort Room not tickets. As long as you are staying with Disney and using military tickets you can add any paid DDP.
My sons father was in the Army and died of ALS (A service related illness). Is my son eligible for Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets on his own account as his father is obviously not able to purchase them.
Hi Michele,
Children are never eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute. Only the spouse is.
The way you phrase it I assume you do not have a current military spouse ID?
Does your son have a current military dependent ID? If so he is eligible for the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets.
See: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Hi Mike
I have a question that i seem to be getting mixed answers about. The normal one day one park tickets you can purchase on base, are those tickets able to be used after dec 15th? I have been told competeing answers. Disney themselves say that the only military tickets they know of that cannot be used from the 21-31 of dec are the military salute tickets and that we just need to make sure the one day tickets are peak day tickets. Do you know if thats what they sell? When i asked leisure travel they said i could not use one day one park passes during dec 15-31 and that disney would not allow me to buy them at the park either and that is not true according to Disneys ticket office. Do you have any advice on this?
Hi Kristin,
The special offer 2019 Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets expire at midnight December 19th and the 2020 Salute does not start until 1 January. The Salute Tickets are the only military tickets that fall under this set of date rules.
You are talking about the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets. These are slightly different versions of the general public Magic Your Way Tickets. They are different because they are good year-round! Base Ticket Offices do not sell date based tickets. There are no blockout dates! They can be used 20-31 Dec.
Sadly most Base Ticket Office workers are trying to do the best they can with no training.
It is true that Disney does not sell the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets, you have to get them from a military Ticket Office or Shades of Green.
Prices should be within a couple dollars of these:https://www.militarydisneytips.com/Tickets/Magic-Your-Way-Tickets.html
See http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/disney-military-discounts/regular-disney-military-discount-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-tickets/
Hi Steve. I only have 4 days available in Orlando. Was looking to do 2 day park to park at Universal and either a 2 day hopper or 1 day hopper 1 day base at Disney. Even though I am unable to use all the days in the promotional ticket price, would it still make more sense financially to buy the promotional tickets? Thank you.
Hi there Christina,
Great question!
Let’s talk Universal first, since you were interested in one option. The special 2020 5-day park-to-park ticket is cheaper at $221 than the regular military 2-day park-to-park at $272.
For Disney you mentioned several options.
The 4-day Disney Armed Forces Salute ticket is cheaper at $265, while the the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Ticket 2-day Hopper is $296, the 1-day Hopper is $179, and the 1-day base is $119 (making the two 1-day tickets $298).
FYI the 2-day non-Hopper is only $226.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/universal-military-discounts/universal-orlando-2020-special-military-discounted-tickets-and-packages/
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute.html
Thank you for your help. Is there any option to “add on” a one day base to a one day hopper?
Hi Christina,
DIsney does allow adding days to their Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets. You have to do it before the ticket expires.
I am currently an Army Apache Pilot stationed in TX. I want to give a gift to my my nieces and nephews to Disney World for spring break. I don’t want to go into why but it is for sensitive family reasons. I want to pay for them to go but I can’t go due to my duties. My question is as a Veteran can i purchase 4 adult tickets on their behalf using a Military discount? TIA
Hi Alex,
You cannot buy them the highly discounted Disney Armed Forces Salute tickets as you will not be going with them.
You can however but them the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets Or Shades of Green Stars and Stripes Passes (if they are staying on property). Both of these are discussed in this post. CHeck them out!
We purchased 6 each 3-day Disney Military Promotional Ticket.with the park hopper option on 4 Feb 2020 for a trip planned for 14-19 March 2020. Due to Cornoavirus the park was closed the day we were to arrive. These tickets were purchased from the MWR Military base. I have returned the tickets to the base and asked for a refund, I have been told that Disneyland is not refunding tickets. I am not going to be able to go this year, we are due to have a new baby in May 2020, and wont be going on a trip in the near future with an infant. That along with being active military, I don’t know what will be required of me in the coming year(s), or if I will be deployed or not. I would appreciate help in this matter Thank You
Hi Sandy,
I’ve copied this comment over to out Park Closure post which is where everyone else is sharing their predicament for Disney to see.
https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/special/disneys-us-parks-to-close/
I’ve reached out to Disney several times on this and have not received an official response.
Hi Steve,
This is all great info. I am wanting to schedule a trip to arrive at Disney on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day this year (12/21) Are there any discounted military tickets that can be used during that time? My husband was previously on active duty, is currently in the reserves on active orders (if any of that matters or helps.)
thank you so much for any guidance you can offer.
Hi Victoria,
It’s the being a current Reserve member that counts. His and your IDs make you both eligible and are are used to obtain all Disney discounts.
Disney offers almost no discounts at Christmas time, but there are the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets which are slightly discounted tickets that are always good.
There is a new wrinkle in their pricing though this year. Disney has mead the Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets at the normal price not valid at Christmas and added a higher priced version.
See https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/military-discount-theme-park-tickets/regular-military-discounted-magic-your-way-tickets/